If I knew how to use a lathe I could make a wooden bat out of your head. There is more than one definition of hardware and not all of it is available at a hardware store. http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/hardware
No shit Sherlock. Even though none of the definitions on your link describe it as a trophy, I have heard the term used in that context- at rec ball levels. We bring home National Championships, not hardware.
The National Championship is represented by a trophy which is the hardware. Without a trophy there is no physical hardware to bring home.
What is the Stanley Cup considered? On second thought, you probably don't know what the Stanley Cup is.
They don't give a rat's ass about the cup. One cup for X players and they don't get to keep it. . They'll show that ring to many. Here are 50 years of Stanley Cup rings if you're interested. http://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/05/31/years-stanley-cup-rings/YgKQX8oNw1LMrIHmIPaibJ/story.html
Maybe they give dildoes to both the winners and losers in your girl sports. You would know that better than me.